They have sanctuary in Baikka Beel, which has 51 to 54 beels, and in some areas of Tanguar Haor under Sunamganj region. Due to the increase in population, filling of water bodies, and deforestation, fishing cat habitats are under great threat, and this animal is gradually disappearing.
Fishing cat – known as Mecho Bagh in Bangla – looks very much like a miniature tiger, but it is a type of wildcat. They are rare in different regions of Bangladesh, but more common in the country’s haors, especially in the eastern Bangladesh’s Sylhet region.
Fishing cats are known by different names in different regions, including Mecho Biral, Choto Bagh, Baghrol or Baghuila. Many people mistake them for leopards because of their spots.
These medium-sized mammals can be found in South and Southeast Asia. The scientific name of Fishing Cat is Prionailurus Viverrinus or Felis Viverrinus. Fishing cats are nocturnal.
In Brazil, Costa Rica, Bangladesh, India, Bolivia, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, they are locally known as Baghrol. The Mecho Bagh is native to Thailand and El Salvador.
In Bangladesh, the fishing cats usually live in swamps, riverbeds, horseshoe lakes, swamps, and mangroves. Their presence helps in maintaining the condition of the wetlands there. They can easily adapt to such environments as they are good swimmers.
Fishing cats prefer fish as their main food source. They also eat crabs, snails, chickens, ducks, goats, and sheep. However, they do not dive in the water to catch fish.
They catch their prey by sitting on the branch of a tree or on a rock on the water. When food becomes scarce, fishing cats have been known to attack humans too. Though predators, fishing cats are timid animals.
They are much larger in size than domestic cats. Their body is covered with dense, thick fur, and male cats are larger in size than female cats. Their appearance and body stripes are remarkably like tigers.
A fishing cat is about three and a half feet long, measured along with its tail. Their skin is gray with a slight yellowish tint, with several rows of dark yellow stripes running vertically. The color of their lower abdomen is white.
Their ears are small and round. There are six to eight black striped spots from behind the eyes to the end of the throat. There are black spots all over the fishing cat’s body.
Fishing cats become ready to breed around 15 months of age, and their breeding season usually lasts from March to June. These wildcats give birth to multiple kittens at once. Their average lifespan is ten years.
Fishing cat population has declined drastically in the last few decades due to several reasons. One of the key reasons behind the decline in their population is the violent attitude and misconception of people towards these wildcats.
Eminent zoologist and a Professor of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University Mustafa Feroz said, “The fishing cat is an endangered species. We have yet to conduct any survey regarding how many fishing cats there are in Bangladesh.
“However, the number of these animals is decreasing day by day due to different crises.”
He continued, “As fish is their main source of food, they live in various water bodies such as Tanguar Haor, Rajshahi’s Chalan Beel, Sreemangal’s Hail Haor, and Baikka Beel. But these wildcats get caught in traps and current nets for fishing in these areas.
“Besides, they are not able to reproduce as effectively due to the destruction of their habitats, bushes, forests, or sanctuaries.”
Feroz further commented, “This species is protected under the Wildlife (Preservation and Security) Act, 2012. They have sanctuary in Baikka Beel, which has 51 to 54 beels, and in some areas of Tanguar Haor under Sunamganj region.
“But if these wildcats cannot find a livable environment, how can they survive? So alongside public awareness, strict enforcement of laws, and protection of sanctuaries is crucial to saving fishing cats.”
A study found that 45% of Southeast Asia’s sanctuaries and 94% of the world’s water bodies have been gradually lost to human occupation, resulting in the loss of wildlife habitat.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, India (WWF), an organisation working on wildlife and nature in the neighbouring country, there are about 10,000 fishing cats remaining across the globe.
However, their number is decreasing day by day due to the destruction of forest areas or habitats to build human settlements, conversion to agricultural land, filling of haors, people’s ignorance and misconceptions, and food shortages.
On one hand, as the number of fish in the haor region is decreasing day by day, the fishing cats are getting less and less food. On the other hand, the number of fishing cats is decreasing day by day due to the killing of many such wildcats.
Due to the increase in population, filling of water bodies, and deforestation, fishing cat habitats are under great threat, and this animal is gradually disappearing.
Therefore, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) included this wildcat in their list of endangered species in 2008. This species is protected as per schedule-1 of Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act of 1974 and 2012 of Bangladesh.
Public awareness is crucial for wildcat conservation. We must work to prevent environmental pollution, and the use of current nets should be reduced. The Law enforcers should be firm in this regard.
West Bengal, India, has named the fishing cat its “state animal,” and the state is currently playing a special role in Baghrol conservation. The initiative is contributing to the increase in the number of wildcats in that region.
